They are Steven W. Blake and incumbent Marsha M. Faux. The race will be decided in the Aug. 14 primary election. The office is nonpartisan. All voters may take part.

The property appraiser serves a four-year term. The appraiser sets the value of property, following state law. Governmental bodies set the tax rates.

Blake, 51, is sole proprietor of Blake Painting & Remodeling. He is a resident of Lakeland and lists his education as two years of architectural engineering at Penn State University, and various real estate investing and appraising courses.

Faux, 56, has been property appraiser since 2001. She is completing her third term. She worked in the Property Appraiser's Office for eight years before her 2000 election and was chief deputy to Property Appraiser Ed Coleman when he retired. Faux is a Lakeland resident and says she has taken courses at Florida Southern College in Lakeland and has three professional appraisal certifications.

OPERATIONS

Better operation of the Property Appraiser's Office is needed, Blake told the Editorial Board. Too many pieces of property have not been inspected — 57 percent has been completed, by his calculation. He cited other problems: “from agricultural classifications being dished out to the wrong people, to homes being missed on the tax rolls.” He said there is public distrust about the Property Appraiser's Office and other agencies of government. “We need to bring Judeo-Christian ethics back to our political system,” Blake said. “If we don't do that, we might as well just give up.”

Continually improving service and bringing advancements to the Property Appraiser's Office are priorities, Faux told the board. “We have brought the office tremendously into new technology. Our assessment rolls are equitable-and-fair,” she said. “We're getting ready to launch a new online exemption module this summer, where you'll be able to file all of the exemptions via our website.” The exemptions available for filing will include “homestead exemptions, widows, widowers, disability, the veterans” and others totaling 28, Faux said.

AGRICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION

In 2008, the Property Appraiser's Office began classifying certain lots in housing subdivisions as agricultural when owners made such applications and provided financial documentation of proper agricultural operation, typically for growing hay. This has been controversial, particularly because of the incongruity of agricultural lots in partially built gated communities containing expensive houses.

Faux said she must follow the state law, in this case examining documents to prove whether or not the property is being used agriculturally. “Some of the harvesters that cut the hay actually bought the hay and resold it, and some of them just got so much per bale to cut it,” she said, with the developer then selling the hay locally. Faux said her office researched the statutes and the practice of other Central Florida counties, adding that “more than 75 percent of our counties in the state of Florida are doing the same thing as I'm doing.”

Blake said, “Just the idea that lots in subdivisions where houses were built makes me question drastically that this has been a bad call.” He added: “The classification should only be given to bona fide farmers, and not builders and developers.”

Blake's hyperbole about injecting religious ethics into governmental offices may hold a superficial attraction to some. Even though it appears well-meaning, it does not hold hope for good stewardship of the Property Appraiser's Office. Neither does Blake's confusion over agricultural classifications applying to the occupations of individuals rather than to the use of the property.

Faux has taken a straightforward-and-consistent approach to agricultural classification, working with a law that, when applied as written, leads to controversy. The law should be overhauled. She is using new technology to improve inspection of property and other operations of her office, and service to the residents and property owners of Polk County. For these reasons, The Ledger recommends Marsha M. Faux, property appraiser.

[ Note: Two full audio podcasts and a “One Tough Question” video excerpt of the Editorial Board's candidate interviews accompany this editorial at TheLedger.com/podcast. The audio and video will play on a personal computer. Or download the podcasts free at the iTunes Store for use on an iPod or similar player; search: Ledger Editorial. ]

<p>A pair of candidates seeks the position of Polk County property appraiser.</p><p>They are Steven W. Blake and incumbent Marsha M. Faux. The race will be decided in the Aug. 14 primary election. The office is nonpartisan. All voters may take part.</p><p>The property appraiser serves a four-year term. The appraiser sets the value of property, following state law. Governmental bodies set the tax rates.</p><p>Blake, 51, is sole proprietor of Blake Painting & Remodeling. He is a resident of Lakeland and lists his education as two years of architectural engineering at Penn State University, and various real estate investing and appraising courses.</p><p>Faux, 56, has been property appraiser since 2001. She is completing her third term. She worked in the Property Appraiser's Office for eight years before her 2000 election and was chief deputy to Property Appraiser Ed Coleman when he retired. Faux is a Lakeland resident and says she has taken courses at Florida Southern College in Lakeland and has three professional appraisal certifications.</p><p><b>OPERATIONS</b></p><p>Better operation of the Property Appraiser's Office is needed, Blake told the Editorial Board. Too many pieces of property have not been inspected — 57 percent has been completed, by his calculation. He cited other problems: “from agricultural classifications being dished out to the wrong people, to homes being missed on the tax rolls.” He said there is public distrust about the Property Appraiser's Office and other agencies of government. “We need to bring Judeo-Christian ethics back to our political system,” Blake said. “If we don't do that, we might as well just give up.”</p><p>Continually improving service and bringing advancements to the Property Appraiser's Office are priorities, Faux told the board. “We have brought the office tremendously into new technology. Our assessment rolls are equitable-and-fair,” she said. “We're getting ready to launch a new online exemption module this summer, where you'll be able to file all of the exemptions via our website.” The exemptions available for filing will include “homestead exemptions, widows, widowers, disability, the veterans” and others totaling 28, Faux said.</p><p><b>AGRICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION</b></p><p>In 2008, the Property Appraiser's Office began classifying certain lots in housing subdivisions as agricultural when owners made such applications and provided financial documentation of proper agricultural operation, typically for growing hay. This has been controversial, particularly because of the incongruity of agricultural lots in partially built gated communities containing expensive houses.</p><p>Faux said she must follow the state law, in this case examining documents to prove whether or not the property is being used agriculturally. “Some of the harvesters that cut the hay actually bought the hay and resold it, and some of them just got so much per bale to cut it,” she said, with the developer then selling the hay locally. Faux said her office researched the statutes and the practice of other Central Florida counties, adding that “more than 75 percent of our counties in the state of Florida are doing the same thing as I'm doing.”</p><p>Blake said, “Just the idea that lots in subdivisions where houses were built makes me question drastically that this has been a bad call.” He added: “The classification should only be given to bona fide farmers, and not builders and developers.”</p><p>Blake's hyperbole about injecting religious ethics into governmental offices may hold a superficial attraction to some. Even though it appears well-meaning, it does not hold hope for good stewardship of the Property Appraiser's Office. Neither does Blake's confusion over agricultural classifications applying to the occupations of individuals rather than to the use of the property.</p><p>Faux has taken a straightforward-and-consistent approach to agricultural classification, working with a law that, when applied as written, leads to controversy. The law should be overhauled. She is using new technology to improve inspection of property and other operations of her office, and service to the residents and property owners of Polk County. For these reasons, The Ledger recommends <b>Marsha M. Faux</b>, property appraiser.</p><p>[ Note: Two full audio podcasts and a “One Tough Question” video excerpt of the Editorial Board's candidate interviews accompany this editorial at TheLedger.com/podcast. The audio and video will play on a personal computer. Or download the podcasts free at the iTunes Store for use on an iPod or similar player; search: Ledger Editorial. ]</p>